Star Z-62
Star Bonifacio Echeverria · Submachine Gun · Out Of Production · 1962
Also known as: Star Model Z-62, MP Star Z-62
Overview
The Star Z-62 is a Spanish submachine gun developed by Star Bonifacio Echeverria in 1962 and adopted by the Spanish armed forces, Guardia Civil, and police. A blowback, open-bolt design chambered originally for the 9x23mm Largo cartridge (with 9x19mm Parabellum used for export), it uses a distinctive double-crescent trigger for fire selection: pressing the upper section fires single shots while the lower section fires full-auto. It feeds from a 30-round box magazine and has an underfolding steel stock.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2870 g (101.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 701 mm (27.60") |
| Folded Length | 480 mm (18.90") |
| Barrel Length | 201 mm (7.91") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x23mm Largo · primary — also known as 9mm Largo, 9mm Bergmann-Bayard, 9x23mm Bergmann-Bayard
- 9x19mm Parabellum · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Grip Safety, Twin Trigger Fire Selection
- Features: Open Bolt, Underfolding Metal Stock, Double Crescent Trigger, Left Side Cocking Handle, Tubular Receiver
Variants
- Star Z-70B — Improved
Service history
Operators
- Spanish Armed Forces · adopted 1963
- Guardia Civil
- Spanish National Police
Conflicts
- Western Sahara War (1975-1991)
- Ifni War (1957-1958)
Production
Production years: 1962-1971
Z-62 production ran until the improved Z-70B superseded it in 1971; total figures unknown.
Origin
Country of origin: Spain
Discontinued: 1985
Notes
The Z-62 was succeeded by the Star Z-70B, which replaced the twin-crescent trigger with a conventional trigger plus a separate selector switch and standardized on the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. Both were eventually replaced in Spanish service by the Star Z-84 in the mid-1980s.
Background
The Z-62's quirky double-crescent trigger let a soldier choose between single shots and full-auto by how far up or down the curved trigger he pressed, with no separate selector lever, a clever but unusual control scheme that its Z-70B successor abandoned for a conventional switch.